Lay-flat seats, business class flights, more

I had one goal when I booked my flight on La Compagnie: to sleep my way across the Atlantic in unbothered, fully horizontal bliss. I wasn’t asking for much — just a sleek, lie-flat seat that would cradle me into unconsciousness somewhere over the ocean, allowing me to wake up in Europe feeling refreshed (and vaguely superior). And, of course, the competitively low ticket price didn’t hurt either. Business-class-only flights at nearly economy rates? Sold.

I’d flown lie-flat before. I’d been wooed by memory foam and footwells. I’d tangled myself in airline blankets that were just one step above hospital sheets. This wasn’t my first time flying in luxury. But what I didn’t expect? The real reason I’d fall for this airline had nothing to do with the seats.

First impressions

The energy upon boarding was immediately different. Gone was the usual pre-flight chaos — the stampedes, the barely concealed aggression of passengers side-eyeing each other for overhead bin space. Instead, the boarding process felt…civilized. Relaxed. With only 76 seats, the cabin was sleek and intimate. No fluorescent lighting that made everyone look like they’re capable of a crime. No loudspeaker announcements barked at a highly-caffeinated pitch. Just a quiet, mood-lit welcome that immediately put me at ease.

A flight attendant greeted me with a smile that surprisingly reached her eyes. She took my coat, asked if I’d like champagne before takeoff, and gestured toward my seat like she was showing me to a private suite at a boutique hotel. It was the kind of effortless hospitality that made me feel less like I was on an airplane and more like I’d found a very well-kept secret.

Settling into my seat, I took in the cabin’s design. It was modern and minimal, with a soft blue color scheme that felt more spa-like than aircraft. The overhead bins were generous, yet the lack of excessive storage gave the cabin a spacious, uncluttered feel. Each seat had a privacy divider, something I hadn’t expected but welcomed. A fellow passenger caught my eye and gave me a knowing nod as if we had both stumbled upon the same hidden treasure.

The lie-flat seats

The seat stretched out fully and was wide enough that I didn’t feel like a tightly wrapped taquito. It came with a decent pillow and a comfortable blanket, and the control panel was intuitive, allowing me to adjust the recline without fumbling around embarassingly. I pressed the recline button and watched as the world tilted away from me, cocooning into my temporary nest of airborne comfort.

Dinner service began, and I was prepared for the usual airline experience: something edible but forgettable. Instead, what arrived at my tray table was surprisingly well-plated and surprisingly delicious. The menu was curated, featuring dishes that seemed to belong in a bistro rather than a pressurized cabin. I opted for the seared salmon, accompanied by a fresh quinoa salad and an absurdly creamy sauce that I would have licked off the plate had I not been attempting to maintain an air of decorum to match my surroundings.

After dinner, I settled in with a book, but before I could make it through a chapter, sleep beckoned. I closed my eyes and let the soft hum of the plane lull me into a deep, undisturbed slumber. I woke up a few hours later, disoriented in the best way, momentarily forgetting I was 30,000 feet in the air. Success!

Even still, it wasn’t the seat that made me text my friends mid-flight: Okay, this airline is actually incredible.

The unexpected winner

This is where La Compagnie truly surprised me. The flight attendants weren’t just polite; they were present. You know how on some airlines, the crew seems to be counting down the minutes until they can disappear behind a curtain? Not here.

One flight attendant noticed I was reading a book by Jean-Paul Sartre and casually recommended a wine pairing to match the mood. Yes. A wine pairing for my book.

Another remembered my drink order without me having to ask. A small thing, but when you’ve been awake for 20 hours and your brain has turned to mush, that level of attentiveness feels like a miracle.

Beyond the small but thoughtful gestures, there was an air of effortlessness in the way they worked. They were stylish, yes — La Compagnie uniforms are sleek and modern, fitting the boutique aesthetic perfectly — but it wasn’t just their appearance that made them stand out. They could make you feel cared for without making it seem like work. No rushed exchanges. No blank stares. No “um, we don’t have that.” Just a level of service that felt warm, natural, and almost nostalgic, like an era of flying most of us thought had long disappeared.

The in-flight experience

There was also something about the in-flight experience itself that felt different. The entertainment system wasn’t packed with an overwhelming number of options, but the selection was refreshingly curated — classic films, foreign cinema, and recent releases that didn’t feel like the bottom of the bargain bin. The WiFi? Fast. Not as fast as the airplane, but actually usable, making it possible to send emails and scroll without frustration.

The little things added up. The lack of crying babies. The absence of a hundred notifications dinging from people’s phones as soon as we landed. The calm, almost meditative quality of the flight made the usual chaos of air travel seem like a distant memory.

The verdict

As we descended into Paris, I stretched out in my seat, feeling far more refreshed than I had any right to. No jet lag headache and no stiff neck; no desperate longing for an espresso IV drip. Just the lingering sensation that I had discovered something special.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t just endure a flight — I actually loved it.

I booked La Compagnie for the lie-flat seat, but I plan to rebook for the experience this year when I attend a wedding abroad. The boutique feel, the attention to detail, the effortless coolness of it all; somehow, this airline made flying feel enjoyable.

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